UK Should Emulate Trump's Approach on AI and Intellectual Property Matters
The UK's approach to AI data and copyright is currently marked by legislative caution, as shown by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUA Act) that received Royal Assent in June 2025. This Act focuses on improving data accessibility and security, establishing frameworks for smart data schemes and digital verification services, and amending processing rules under UK GDPR. However, it does not impose direct new copyright obligations on AI developers.
In contrast, former US President Donald Trump's 2020-era AI stance prioritised robust federal leadership to accelerate AI innovation, promote AI workforce development, and maintain American AI leadership globally. While Trump's policy emphasised fostering innovation and AI competitiveness, it did not focus extensively on copyright issues related to AI training data.
The UK's current policy is marked by a proposal to require AI developers to disclose to copyright holders how their works are used in AI training datasets, which was rejected by the House of Commons. Instead, the government has opted to await the results of a dedicated Intellectual Property Office (IPO) consultation on copyright and AI before deciding on any copyright reforms applicable to AI training data.
This cautious approach has led to a situation where little AI training actually takes place in the UK, with leading AI firms like Stability AI training their models abroad. This fact led Getty Images to drop its main copyright claim against Stability AI.
Meanwhile, Beijing's AI labs are pouring data into models and building tools that are beginning to outperform those built in the West, unburdened by licensing and unchallenged by AI companies outside the United States. This has raised concerns that the UK's strict copyright rules could impact global AI safety and security, and undermine the UK's AI innovation efforts.
In the context of AI, President Donald Trump's advice to "let AI train" seems particularly relevant. The UK government must adopt a commonsense approach to AI and copyright laws to counter China's growing AI innovation efforts and ensure the UK remains a global leader in AI development.
On the other hand, the UK's AI Growth Zone (AIGZ) is an initiative aimed at providing necessary compute for powerful UK-based models that drive the Labour government's election promises. However, without UK-based AI training, AIGZs will serve no other purpose than expensive reminders of a promise unfulfilled.
References: - UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and related copyright consultation, ks law article July 2025 [1] - UK data reform and GDPR update, Clifford Chance and Sidley Austin LLP analyses July-August 2025 [2][3][4] - US AI Initiative and AI Executive Order (Trump administration, 2020) (contextual knowledge inferred).
- The UK's policy on AI data and copyright involves a cautious approach, contrasting with President Donald Trump's emphasis on accelerating innovation without extensive focus on copyright issues related to AI training data.
- The UK's proposal to require AI developers to disclose AI training dataset usage to copyright holders was rejected, and the government has opted to await an Intellectual Property Office consultation on copyright and AI before deciding on any reforms.
- The lack of AI training in the UK, due to strict copyright rules, has resulted in leading AI firms training their models abroad, like Stability AI, and has led to concerns about the impact on global AI safety and security, and potential undermining of the UK's AI innovation efforts.
- In contrast, China's AI labs are pouring data into models and building tools that are beginning to outperform those built in the West, unburdened by licensing and unchallenged by AI companies outside the United States, raising concerns about the UK's strict copyright rules.
- President Trump's advice to "let AI train" seems particularly relevant for the UK government, emphasizing the need for a commonsense approach to AI and copyright laws to counter China's growing AI innovation efforts and ensure the UK remains a global leader in AI development.
